Electric railway.



No. 679,3l4. Patented July 30, l90l. E. M. HEWLETT.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY,

(Application filed Oct. 19 1897.)

(No Mndel.)

WITNEEEEEI.

EDWARD M. HEWLETT, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPEGIIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,314, dated July30, 1901.

Application filed October 19, 1897. Serial No. 655,698. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State 5 of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSurface-Contact Electric Railways, (Case No. 494,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for operating apparatuselectrically, and to clearly disclose the same I illustrate anembodiment of the invention in surfacecontact electric railways. It hasbeen heretofore proposed in systems of this kind to permanently includea resistance in circuit with each coil to reduce the current flowingtherein; but in many systems,noticeably for heavy high-speed traffic,this is not a satisfactory arrangement, for the switches will not actquickly enough, due to the self-induction of the coils. If the permanentresistance plus that of the coil is sufflcient to reduce the amount ofcurrent flowing in the coil to a point where there is no danger of itsburning out,then a certain interval of time is required for the switchto close, which in high-speed systems requires too great and in somecases an impossible overlap of the contact-shoes.

I overcome the objections above pointed out by winding theswitch-magnets with a comparatively small number of turns of wire, andunder normal conditions-that is, when no vehicle is passing-connect oneterminal of the coil directly to the line conductor and the other to asurface-contact stud; but as soon as a vehicle approaches and closes aswitch, resistance is automatically cut into circuit with theswitch-coil and remains as long as the particular stud that is connectedto the coil continues active. By this arrangement the potential to whichthe coil is subjected is a maximum while the switch is closing and is somuch in excess of the counter electromotive force of the coil that theswitch closes 5 instantly, and the resistance that is automatically cutinto circuit increases the efficiency of the system by limiting thecurrent flowing through the coil to ground, at the same time preventingoverheating of the coil.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my invention applied to asurface-contact system, in which A represents a vehicle, B

the traffic-rails, and C and D switches for closing the circuit betweenthe feeder E and working studs F, situated in the roadway. On thevehicle are propelling-motors K and connected contact-shoes Gand G. Theformer makes contact with working conductors F and the latter withenergizing or switch-closing studs H. A controller of any suitableconstruction is provided for the motors, and a switch L is employed toconnect the storage battery M in circuit with shoe G for picking up theswitches when for any reason they have dropped. Each switch is providedwith a movable core a, carrying an insulated contact b at its outer endand arranged to bridge the fixed resistance-terminals c and c.Surrounding the core is a comparatively small coil of wire 41, that isconnected at one end to stud H and at the other to resistance terminal0. The carrying capacity and also the counter electromotive force ofthis coil is small, and to permit current at full potential to flowthrough it for any length of time would waste a largeamount of energy,at the same time overheating the coil. To prevent this, as soon as theswitch closes resistance I is included in circuit. The resistance may bearranged so that it is cut out the instant contact 6 bridges terminal f,or it may be slightly in advance or afterward, the object being to givethe magnet-core time to get well under way before the resistance isincreased. As it requires considerably more current to start a switchthan to hold it closed the current supplied is by my inven tion madecorrespondingly large at the start and then reduced. For this reason theoverlap of the collecting-shoes on the car can be reduced, and as theswitch-coil resistance is not normally in circuit only a low potentialauxiliary source of current is required for initially closing a switchwhen the feeder is not connected to a conductor-section. Connect- 5 edto the core by a toggle d is a contact or switch piece 6, arranged tobridge contacts f and complete the circuit between feeder E andcontactstud F. In circuit with one of the contacts is a blow-out magnetg to disrupt arcs formed at this point. A spring h is employed to returnthe parts to the position shown in right-hand switch D. Connected toterminals and c is a resistance I, and connecting contact 0 andresistance I with grounded rail B is a wire J.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Assuming the vehicle to bemoving from left to right, the coil 2' of switch 0 is energized to holdthe switch closed by a shunt-current from shoe G, which passes byconnection G2 to shoe G, contact-stud H, coil 1', terminal 0, resistanceI, wire J, to rail B and ground. As the vehicle advances to a pdintwhere shoe G rests on stud H a shunt-current will pass through theswitch-coil, attract its core, and close the circuit to stud F, at aboutthe same time cutting resistance I into circuit by the withdrawal of thecontact on the core from the two stationary contacts. As soon as thevehicle leaves a pair of contact-studs the circuit is automaticallyinterrupted and the resistance short-circuited.

The invention is not necessarily limited to the herein-describedshunt-magnet-railway system nor to an embodiment in any type of railway,but relates, broadly, to electricallyoperated apparatus of any kind.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In an electromagnetically controlled switch, the combination withrelatively movable contacts for making and breaking acircuit, of anenergizing-coil for the switch, and a resistance which is normally outof circuit, but is included in circuit with the coil independently ofthe position of the switch by the movement of the latter after it hasstarted to close.

2. In a surface-con tact electric-railway system, the combination withconductor-sections situated in the roadway, of electromagnetic switchesfor connecting the sections with the source of supply, resistanceincluded in circuit with each of the switch-coils, and an automaticswitch for cutting said resistance into and out of circuit.

' 3. In a surface contact electric-railway system, the combination withconductor-sections situated in the roadway, of electromagnetic switchesfor closing the circuit between the sections and the source of supply,and a resistance normally out of circuit, but which is included incircuit after a switch-coil has been energized.

4. In a surface-contact electric railway, the

combination with conductor-sections situated in the roadway, ofelectromagnetic switches for closing the circuit between the source ofsupply and the sections, energizing-coils on the switches permanentlyconnected to ground, and switches for automatically increasing theresistance of the circuits of the electromagnet-coils after theelectromagnetic switches have started to close.

5. In a surfacecontact electric railway, the combinationwithconductor-sections situated in the roadway, electromagnetic switches forclosing the circuit between the sourceof supply and the sections,energizingcoils on the switches permanently connected to ground, and acontact actuated by the core of the magnet for short-eircuiting aresistance when the switch is open, and including it in circuit f whenthe switch is closed.

6. In a surface-contact electric railway having a shunt pick-up, thecombination with working conductor-sections normally disconnected fromthe feeder, of shunt-energizing conductor-sections permanently connectedto ground through switch-coils, contact-shoes carried by the vehicle andmaking contact with the sections, contacts actuated by the switch forclosing the circuit between the working conductor-sections and thefeeder,

and a resistance normally short-circuited, but included in theswitch-coil circuit after the switch has been energized.

'7. In a surface-contact electric-railway system, the combination withelectrical conductors for supplying current to the traveling motors, ofline-switches in the circuit between the sectional conductors and feederor source of supply, magnet-coils in shunt-circuits receiving the full,or substantially the full, line potential for closing the lineswitches,special resistances in the shunt-circuits, and means whereby saidspecial resistance is out of circuit when the corresponding line-switchis open, butau-tomatically brought into circuit when the line-switch isclosed.

8. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromotive devicefor actuating said switch, and means controlled by said motive deviceindependently of the position of the switch for reducing the amount ofcurrent which flows through the energizing-circuit of the motive deviceafter it has imparted the initial movement to said switch.

9. The combination with an electric switch,

I of an electromotive device for actuating said switch, and meanscontrolled by the switch for reducing the amount of current which flowsthrough said device.

10. The combination with a normally open electric switch, of aneleotromotive device adapted to quickly move said switch toward itsclosing position, and means operating independently ot the position ofthe switch whereby a smaller current flows through said electromagneticdevice after the switch has been moved than that flowing when saidmotive device has been moving said switch.

11. The combination with an electric switch which is required to bemoved and maintained for a time in the position to which it has beenmoved, of an electromotive device for moving said switch and maintainingit in the desired position, and means controlled by said switch wherebya smaller current flows through said electromagnetic device after it hasmoved said switch toward the desired position.

12. The combination with an electric switch which is required to bemoved and maintained for a time in the position to which it has beenmoved, an electromotive device for moving said switch and maintaining itin the desired position, and means controlled by said switch forreducing the current flowing through the circuit of said electromotivedevice at any time after it has imparted motion to said switch.

13. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a feeder, of asectional working conductor, a set of switches, each adapted to closethe circuit between said feeder and a section of said conductor, a setof electromotive devices, each adapted to control one of said switches,and means operating independently of the position of a switch whereby asmaller current flows through the circuit of the electromagnetic devicewhich operates said switch after the switch has received its primaryactuation.

14. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a feeder, of areturn, a sectional working conductor, a shunt circuit from a pointbetween the feeder and the carmotors, through a section of saidenergizingconductor to the return, a set of switches each adapted toclose a circuit between the feeder and a section of said workingconductors, aset of electromotive devices each adapted to control one ofsaid switches, and itself controlled by said shuntcircuit, and meanswhereby a smaller current flows through the circuit of saidelectromotive device after the switch has received its primaryactuation.

15. The combination with an electric switch which is required to bemoved and maintained for a time in the position to which it has beenmoved, of an electromotive device for moving said switch and maintainingit in the desired position, and a resistance which is cut into thecircuit of said electromotive device independently of the positionofsaid switch by means of said switch.

16. In an electric'railway system, the combination with a feeder, of asectional working conductor, a set of switches each adapted to close acircuit between said feeder and a section of said conductor, a set ofelectromot-ive devices each adapted to control one of said switches, anda set of resistances each of which is adapted to be cut into the circuitof one of said electromagnetic devices independently of the position ofthe switch which it operates, by means of said moving parts during themovement thereof.

1 7. The combination with an electric switch adapted to be held normallyopen, an electromagnet for closing the said switch and holdin g itclosed for a time, and a resistance which is cut into circuit with acoil of said magnet independently of the position of said switch bymeans of a body which is moved by said coil.

18. The combination with a normally open electric switch, of anelectromagnet for closing said switch, a resistance in series with thecoils of said magnet, a secondary switch normally closing a shunt aroundthe said re sistance, said secondary switch being also controlled bysaid electromagnet.

19. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromagnet forcontrolling the switch, in shunt to the circuit controlled bythe switch,and a resistance which is inserted in series with the coil of saidmagnet after the magnet has moved the switch.

20. The combination with a primary electric switch, of an electromagnetfor controlling the switch and in shunt to the circuit controlled bysaidswitch, a resistance, and a secondary switch which is controlled by thesaid magnet to insert said resistance in series with the magnet-coilafter the magnet has moved the primary switch.

21. The combination with an electric switch,

.of an electroniotive device which controls said a switch in the circuitof said device, which.

is closed by the lattern 23. A sectional railway having switchesconnecting its sections with the feeder, and electromagnet coilssupplied with current from the feeder, for operating said switches,resistances in series with said coils, and having broken short-circuitedconnections, and switches normally closing said connections,

"and opened by said coils when the latter are energized to close thefeeder-switches.

2 t. The combination with the feeder switches of a sectional-conductorelectric railway, of electromotive devices supplied with current throughclosed feeder-switches, to close the advance switches as the carproceeds, resistances, and meansfor cutting one of said resistances intothe circuit of an elec-v tromotive device when the latter has actu atedits switch.

25. The combination with the feeder, of conductor-sections, switches forconnecting the latter with the former, electromagnets for actuating saidswitches, and supplied in normal operation by current from the feeder,and resistances which are cut into the circuits of the respectivemagnet-coils by the respective switches in closing, whereby the switchesare closed with certainty and positiveness and held closed by only asmall current.

26. In a railway, the combination with the feeder, ofconductor-sections, switches for connecting the latter with the former,elec' tromagnets for actuating said switches, and supplied in normaloperation by current from the feeder, collecting means carried by thecar, an independent source of low-potential current which initiallyenergizes an electromagnet when the feeder is not connected to theconductor-section engaged by the collectin g means, and resistanceswhich are cut into the circuits of the electromagnets by the switches inclosing, whereby only a low-po-' tential independent or auxiliary sourceof current is required to initially energize the magnets, and wherebyduring the progress of the car the switches are actuated with certaintyand positiveness, and held closed by only a small current.

27. In combination, a feeder, a conductorsec'tion, a feeder-switch forconnecting the section with the feeder, a second conductorsection, saidsections being adapted to be connected by a car-collecting device, acoil connected with the second section for closing said feeder-switch, aresistance in the circuit of said coil, a switch which normallyshortcircuits said resistance and is adapted to be actuated by said coilto include the resistance in series with the coil.

28. The combination with the feederswitches of a sectional-conductorrailway, of electromotive devices connected in branches around thecar-motors and adapted to close the feeder-switches, resistances, andmeans for'automatically inserting the resistances in series with theelectromotive devices as the switch is closed.

29. The combination with a feeder-switch, of an electromotive device forclosing the same, a resistance for the circuit of said device, whichresistance is short-circuited by the switch in its open position, and iscut into the device-circuit by the closing movement of the switch. I

30. The combination with a feeder-switch, of a coil for closing thesame, and a resistance which is cut into the coil-circuit by the closingmovement of the switch.

31. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromotive devicefor closing the switch, said device being in the circuit closed by theswitch, and a resistance which is cut into circuit with the device bythe closing movement of the switch.

32. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromotive devicefor closing the switch, which device is connected in the circuit closedby the switch, a resistance, and means controlled by the switch wherebythe resistance is cut into the circuit of said device.

33. The combination with a toggle, of a switch-piece mounted on an endof the togof an electromotive device for actuating the switch, aresistance connected with the coils of said device, and a shunt aroundthe resistance, which shunt is normally closed by said switch, but isopened when the switch is actuated by said device.

37. The combination with a switch provided with contacts for controllingan electric circuit, of an electromotive device for moving said switch,a resistance, and an auxiliary contact carried by said switch by which,when the switch is moved by the electromotive device, the resistance isinserted in series with the coils of said device.

38. The combination with a switch for 'an electric circuit, of anelectromotive device for actuating said switch, a branch from thecircuit of said device, a resistance in said branch, and a switch in thecircuit of and controlled by the coils of said device.

39. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromotive devicefor moving the switch, a resistance, and means controlled by theelectromotive device for cutting the resistance in series with the coilsof said device after the latter has moved the switch.

40. The combination with an electric switch, of an electromotive devicefor moving the switch, a resistance, and means whereby when the deviceis energized it moves the switch, and also inserts the resistance inseries with its own coils.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of October,1897.

EDWARD M. HEWLETT.

Witnesses:

B. B. HULL, M. H. EMERSON.

IOC

